On February 19th, the OECD launched a consultation entitled “Preventing abuse of residence by investment schemes to circumvent the CRS”. It was about time. Since 2014, we have written several papers and blogs (here, here, here, here and here) explaining how residency and citizenship schemes offered … [Read more...]
Tax Avoidance
Video: discussion on tax revenue losses, Apple’s tax avoidance and ‘state aid’
We're sharing here the opening panel discussion of the June 2017 European Financial Congress, Eastern Europe's largest finance congress in Gdansk, Poland. The theme of the panel was "Tax solidarity in the world and in the EU" and it features visiting Professor at Oxford University Philip Baker QC … [Read more...]
Guest blog: Tax Avoidance and Evasion in Africa
We're pleased to share this blog post (first published here) written by Nataliya Mykhalchenko for the Review of African Political Economy: Tax avoidance, tax evasion, tax heavens, illicit financial flows and global tax governance are real buzzwords that have come to dominate current international … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: The onshore heart of the offshore industry
We're sharing this blog in its entirety from Icelandic journalist Sigrun Davidsdottir's excellent Icelog. The Paradise Papers emphasises, yet again, that the damaging effect of offshore is much more pervasive that robbing countries of tax. Offshore creates a two-tier business environment, hiding … [Read more...]
Big Four accounting firms are key drivers of tax haven use, new research says
As scandals emerge from the Paradise Papers, the Big Four accountancy firms seem to have managed to stay largely out of the spotlight once again. But research released today shows that scrutiny of their practices is justified in the public interest. The new study is authored by Dr Chris Jones and … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: residency for sale to the rich and famous
Among the scandals exposed by the Paradise Papers is that of residency for sale, something I covered just last month (along with passports for sale) as a special feature in our monthly podcast and radio show, the Taxcast, which you can listen to below. The name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll showed … [Read more...]
Enough evidence on trusts – where are the State’s actions?
Our two last papers on trusts (here and here) described trusts’ involvement in grand corruption and other cases that would anger any rational person. The Paradise Papers, and recent case law, shed outrageous new light on trusts’ role in worsening inequality, shielding assets from legitimate … [Read more...]
European Commission orders Luxembourg to claim back 250 million in taxes from Amazon – TJN Reaction
There are two very welcome pieces of tax justice news today. Firstly, the European Commission has ordered the tax haven of Luxembourg to recover 250 million euros in taxes from Amazon, finding that the benefits extended to the company amount to illegal state aid. The support Amazon received, allowed … [Read more...]
Beginning of the end for the arm’s length principle?
The European Commission has released a statement which could well signal the beginning of the end for the OECD’s international tax rules, and the arm's length principle on which they are based. The current rules, which date to decisions taken at the League of Nations in the inter-war years, are … [Read more...]
Will the G20 ever end the global problem of tax avoidance and tax evasion?
Ahead of the G20 Summit in Hamburg this week our own George Turner has published this op-ed in the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung today. The article discusses why, despite sustained political engagement from world leaders, we are still some way from solving the problem of tax avoidance and tax … [Read more...]
New estimates reveal the extent of tax avoidance by multinationals
New figures published today by the Tax Justice Network provide a country-level breakdown of the estimated tax losses to profit shifting by multinational companies. Applying a methodology developed by researchers at the International Monetary Fund to an improved dataset, the results indicate global … [Read more...]
Links Mar 17
The problems with measuring tax systems SPERI 'In debates about tax policy we need to de-emphasise the role of economics and measurement and rekindle the politics'. Blog by TJN's Nicholas Shaxson, author of Treasure Islands: Tax Havens and the Men Who Stole the World. Re-framing tax spillover … [Read more...]
Links Mar 13
Corporate taxation key to protecting human rights in the global economy CESR UN urges US to not exploit American Samoa The Guam Daily Post 'The United Nations has "strongly urged" the United States to refrain from using American Samoa as, among other things, a tax haven'. A significant shift? … [Read more...]
Links Mar 10
Public Beneficial Ownership Registries- A Shot In The Arm In The Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows Financial Transparency Coalition European Parliament takes on financial crime with tough proposals Sven Giegold More evidence in the case against Luxembourg FT Alphaville … [Read more...]
Links Mar 9
Taxes & Women's Rights? Global Alliance for Tax Justice See also: Happy International Women’s Day wrapup We managed tax transparency in Pakistan. Why not everywhere else?The Guardian By Umar Cheema. See Politicians and their tax returns: a new project from Finance Uncovered MEPs vote to … [Read more...]